DIG News

Professional development opportunities abound this summer! Below are just a few upcoming opportunities from Gallaudet University's Center for Continuing Studies (CCS). For more courses, additional information, or to register, please visit summer.gallaudet.edu.

ONLINE COURSES

Writing for the Business and Professional World (3 credits) May 19 - July 11, 2014
This course is designed for learners in fields that require practical writing, such as effective resumes, business letters, and short and long reports encountered in the business/professional setting.

Successful Grant Writing (3 credits) June 23 - August 15, 2014
Working in a highly interactive environment, gain hands‐on experience in how nonprofits, state and federal agencies, and schools can develop successful grant applications for funding. This level session is designed for individuals working in the nonprofit or education sector.

Disability Studies (3 credits) May 19 - July 11, 2014
As an emerging interdisciplinary field of study, Disability Studies does not approach disability as a "medical condition, but as a human condition" (Charlton). Instead of studying the causes and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, the class will explore the historical, social, political, religious, philosophical, and cultural influences that construct the category of "disability."

Dynamics of Oppression (3 credits) May 19 - July 11, 2014
This course examines various forms of oppression by look­ing across different cultures and communities, then exam­ines possible parallels occurring within the deaf community.

ON CAMPUS COURSES

Entrepreneur and Leadership Seminar (3 credits) July 14 - July, 18 2014
This seminar provides deaf or hard of hearing professionals an overview of the skills and tools needed to complete a comprehensive business plan for the start-up of a successful business. Topics include identifying your customers, product development, market analysis, organization and management, leadership, promotion and advertising, legal aspects, and financial analysis and planning.

We're excited to announce that the 2014 DHHIG Annual Meeting and Election will be held on Thursday, June 19, 6:00-8:30pm at Tynan Coffee and Tea! It is located right off the NOMA metro stop (red line) at 1275 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002. Attendance is free for DHHIG members, and food and drinks will be provided. Don't forget to RSVP: http://www.dhhig.org/Election/MeetingRSVP.

We are accepting nominations for several key positions on the DHHIG board. Here is your chance to help guide the future of DHHIG! Please visit our website to learn how to nominate someone or yourself and find voting information and other details: http://www.dhhig.org/Election.

The Schedule A Video is available for viewing. To see the video, please be sure to click "Read More" at the bottom of the blog post to enlarge the video screen. If you would like to view it on youtube, please click here. Also, please note that to view the closed captions, please click on the cc button located at the right hand corner of the video screen.

I am honored and delighted to be serving as your President for the second and final term. I would like to introduce you to your new Vice President, Michelle Koplitz. I know we both share the same passion for current and prospective Deaf and Hard of Hearing Federal employees. We all are looking forward to seeing all the exciting things she will bring to the organization with her new tenure in the upcoming months.

Last year's National Training Conference was a great success, but also at a great cost to DHHIG. To ensure that we remain a premier organization for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Federal employees for years to come, difficult decisions and changes have to be made. The challenges we've faced from the continued sequestration, potential furloughs, and "conference" spending scrutiny has forced us to re-think how we conduct our conference and seminars. Based upon these circumstances, the Board has decided to put both the One Day Seminar and National Training Conference on hold till further notice and we will instead deliver training through various means- webinars, educational videos, virtual online training, and traditional classroom
settings. Scholarship funds for training and continuing education has been established and we are seeking donations. Once the fund has reached a balance of $10,000 DHHIG will start awarding scholarships to qualified applicants.

The DHHIG and its Board members remain committed to overcome communication barriers, resolve accessibility issues, and promote a fully inclusive work environment. The people who serve DHHIG are purely volunteers and we have a sacred number of them who are willing to contribute their time to the organization. With limited time and resources, we have restructured internally to focus on 4 core areas:

1) Rebranding DHHIG;

2) Networking;

3) Public Policy and Advocacy; and

4) Training.

This restructuring will enable us to provide services to our members.

Based on the new mission statement that the Board and our members recently approved, our rebranding committee will focus on creating a new "DHHIG". Michelle Koplitz will be leading this committee that will conduct activities such as the development of a new logo and website and reevaluate and expand membership benefits. The new DHHIG will be unveiled at the National Association of the Deaf's 2014 Biennial Conference at Atlanta, GA. We hope you all can join us for this exciting milestone!

DHHIG also promotes the importance of networking as it is the best strategy to use for creating several career opportunities and Ryan Maliszewski will work on setting up networking events. We hope you all can attend our events when they become available.

We have built a strong partnership with the Federal Employees with Disabilities (FEDs), National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network (DHHCAN) to overcome your communication barriers and resolve accessibility issues. Jon Mitchiner, Board Member-at-Large, has been actively engaged in discussion and representing all of us in meetings with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and
Congress to advocate for your issues.

Without you, DHHIG would not exist and we need your support, so please renew your membership or join us today! As always, DHHIG needs more volunteers and if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to us at Info@dhhig.org.

Last but not least, I would like to take the time to thank our corporate level sponsors for their support to this organization. They are TCS Associates, Gallaudet University Interpreter Services (GIS), and Deaf Access Solutions (DAS).